The winner of our current Short Story Competition is published in the May|June issue of Irish Country Magazine, on shelves now. ‘The Rocking Horse’ by Siobhan O’Shea came in second place.
Hannah remembers her grandad fondly as she sees the sunlight glinting on the penny. He had often said, “Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you’ll have good luck.” He had passed on many of his sayings and stories to her from his Irish background, even though he had emigrated to Florida at a very young age.
She still missed him; she was so fond of him and his ways. Even though it had been over three years since he died. One of his favourite sayings was “Éist le do chuid instincts”. She was trying to remember the translation, but it would not come to her, and now he was gone. She could not ask him.
On an impulse Hannah decides to arrange a trip to her grandad’s birthplace in a small country town called Ballymac. She arrives in Ireland and is collected by her cousin Dan, who offers to show her around. The first thing she wants to do is explore the streets and the area where her grandfather had spent his childhood. Dan agrees to show her around the local area. He offers to bring her to the hurling county final, which is on the next day.
Strolling the cobbled streets, she notices an old antique shop. The window display immediately catches her eye. A beautifully carved wooden rocking horse is moving back and forth. It seems to be moving by itself, lost in another world.
Stopping to look, she is completely enchanted by the rocking horse. She decides to venture into the shop and check the price surprised by her reaction to it. She had learned from her grandfather not to waste money on frivolous things. He had taught her so much. But something in her heart was calling her to look at the rocking horse.
The price is almost a thousand euros. She wants to buy it but knows it makes no sense and cannot justify spending that amount of money on a rocking horse. Hannah rings her boyfriend, Tom, who always lifts her spirits. He was meant to be with her. But he had not been able to make the trip due to breaking his leg. But he encouraged her to go to Ireland anyway, and he is still in Florida.
He hears the excitement in her voice as she tells him about the rocking horse. He is surprised at her emotional reaction. As he knows, she is a very practical girl at heart. It is not like her, and he starts thinking that it must be a very special rocking horse. The next day Dan and her relatives bring her to the hurling county final. Saint John’s parish against Saint Brigid’s. They start explaining hurling to her on the way.
“There is a fair guarantee that there will be skin and hair flying and a few decent shoulder jostles. But we are lucky we have young Ryan on the team. He is a skilful free-taker and that could make all the difference”. Dan tells her, and then he realises he should explain some of the rules and continues.
“You must hit the sliotar with the hurl. If you hit it over the other team’s goalposts, it counts as one point. Underneath the bar, it is a goal, and that is worth three points. Whoever scores the most wins”.
They are standing at the side of the green pitch. It is a fast high- scoring match with twists and turns. The sliotar is flying in the air as if by magic. Surrounded by shouts of “Will ye pull harder on it.” The match is point for point. She is told “only one-point init now”, and then Saint John’s gets a free in the last minute of injury time. The crowd almost afraid to look at young Ryan, checking the blade of grass to see which way the wind is blowing. He takes the free and it goes over the bar. Saint John’s has won!
All the crowd from Saint John’s jump in the air with shouts of “yes” echoing across the field. Grabbed by her cousin and lifted in the air. She is swung around and hugged. Her loves for this place and community grows. The locals are thrilled with her reaction to the match.
There is a celebration that night in the clubrooms. The locals include her in everything. She loves this place, and she will come back. She wonders if the rocking horse will still be in the shop when she returns later in the year.
She misses Tom immensely. He is so good for her and more romantic than her. Hoping he will be able to accompany her on the next trip to Ireland. She leaves Ireland with heavy heart. It’s as if a piece of her heart belongs in Ireland.
She arrives back home in Florida. She blinks. She thinks she sees the same rocking horse swaying in the window of her house. “It must be jet lag”, she whispers to herself.
Tom had the rocking horse shipped over with help from the local community. On the seat of the rocking horse, he had placed an engagement ring and a note saying, “An bpósfaidh tú mé?” She remembered what that meant as her grandad had told her the story of when he had proposed. She knew it meant “Will you marry me?” in Irish.
She smiles and agrees while Tom swoops her up into his arms dancing with delight in their hearts. They decide to get married in Ireland. The rocking horse starts swaying, and she looks underneath it. She finds a hand-carved inscription saying, “Éist le do chuid instincts”.
And then her memory jolts. She remembers what it meant. ‘Listen to your instincts’. The rocking horse had found its way back to the Delaney family. She has found her community after searching for it since her grandad died.
Click here for details on how to enter our July|August competition.
